Covid-19 coronavirus: Orchardists plead for Pacific Island travel bubble – Christian Fuller:
Orchardists say more than $600m is set to be lost to from regional economies like Hawke’s Bay’s as a result of the massive shortage of workers to pick fruit.
The region’s orchardists, exporters and growers reliant on seasonal work say they’ve worked through the season with “anxiety and desperation beyond belief”.
And they are calling on the Government to open a travel bubble with the Pacific islands to allow the free flow of what would normally be up to 14,410 workers arriving as part of the recognised seasonal employer scheme, in time for the 2022 season.
Thousands of tonnes of fruit is now being left on trees in Hawke’s Bay. . .
NZ Pork slams blanket emissions policy – Annette Scott:
The pork industry is calling for the Government to recognise a different emissions policy approach for pigs.
In its submission to the Climate Change Commission (CCC), NZ Pork says a one-size-fits-all approach for livestock does not take into account non-ruminant livestock such as pigs.
New Zealand Pork chief executive David Baines says the unique nature of the pork industry in NZ means policy designed for the pastoral sector and ruminant livestock will not necessarily be the most effective means of facilitating emissions reductions from farmed pigs.
While welcoming many of the recommendations in the CCC’s draft advice to the Government, he says a blanket policy could disproportionately impact NZ pig farmers. . .
Saleyards a magnet for Knight – Shawn McAvinue:
A retired trucking company owner continues to visit a stock sale in Central Otago to have “a nosey” and shout smoko.
Forbes Knight (89) first visited the Mt Benger Saleyards near Roxburgh after buying trucking company Millers Flat Carrying Company in 1954, aged 22.
Mr Knight, of Millers Flat, said in the 1950s, the footprint of the saleyards was much bigger and stretched across both sides of Teviot Rd.
The stock inside the pens were skinnier then because of a rampant rabbit population eating their feed. . .
Plant production Young Achiever back for 2021:
Entries open now – are you the next plant producers Young Achiever?
NZ Plant Producers is very pleased to announce that the Young Achiever of the Year competition is back for 2021.
After being forced to cancel in 2020, the next competition will be held on July 14-15, at Growing Spectrum, Hamilton.
Young Achiever allows young people involved in plant production to gain an entry to the prestigious Young Horticulturalist of the Year competition. Entrants are tested on their practical industry skills, knowledge, and public speaking. . .
Young chef wins ambassador award :
Even before his most recent win a few weeks ago, there was no doubt Sam Heaven was a young chef going places.
Despite border closures late last year, he won the Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Award for best chef in Australia and New Zealand aged under 25 in a virtual grand final cook-off.
After winning the title Heaven, 23, who works at the Park Hyatt in Auckland, thought that was it for competitions.
“After that last one I thought ‘that’s it, I’ve done heaps, it’s time to focus on my career’,” Heaven said. . .
Debate over dingo versus wild dog, does the name matter – Chris McLennan:
Scientists who insist virtually all wild dogs are actually dingoes say the term was adopted because it was easier to sell.
They say “killing wild dogs is more palatable than killing dingoes”.
Wild dogs may be fair game for baiting, shooting and trapping programs run by landholders and governments, dingoes are often not.
Wild dogs are estimate to cost Australian agriculture more than $100 million annually. . .